The Manzano Monarchs can finally bid farewell to their nine-game losing streak thanks to their game on Friday. They walked away with a 66-54 win over Rio Grande. The win was just what Manzano needed coming off of a 69-40 loss in their prior game.
Manzano's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Shane Erni led the charge by scoring 13 points along with seven rebounds and six assists. Another player making a difference was Donavan Rhodes, who scored 14 points.
When it comes to explaining why Rio Grande lost, one person who can't be blamed is Santiago Gonzalez. Despite the final result, he dropped a double-double on 21 points and ten rebounds. Gonzalez hasn't dropped below 15 points for five straight games. Mateo Gonzalez was another key contributor, scoring seven points along with five rebounds.
Manzano's win ended a 12-game drought at home dating back to last season and bumped them up to 5-12. As for Rio Grande, their defeat was their third straight on the road, which dropped their record down to 5-10.
Manzano will square off against the Demons at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Santa Fe presents a significant challenge as they come into the match much higher ranked than the Monarchs in New Mexico (the Demons are ranked sixth, while the Monarchs are ranked 62nd). As for Rio Grande, they will be playing in front of their home fans against the Cougars at 7:00 p.m. on Monday. Cibola is coming into the match on a four-game losing streak.
